UN chief Ban Kimoon has expressed readiness to engage with India
and Pakistan in resolving the Kashmir issue if requested by both and
asked them to resume talks to reach an agreement that would serve their
security interests as well as that of the region.

"As I have stated in the past, if both countries request it, I
am ready to engage further to assist in resolving this issue," the
Secretary General said.

Reiterating that peace in Jammu and Kashmir can be achieved only
through dialogue, Ban called on the two countries to resume discussions
and said that an agreement on Kashmir would serve the security interests
of both countries as well as that of the region.

"I once again encourage both governments to resume discussions
and identify confidencebuilding measures that will allow them to come to
an agreement on Kashmir, which will serve the security interests of both
countries as well as of the region," said Ban.

He said that Kashmiris need to be engaged in the process and their
rights must also be respected at all times.

Ban said he as well as other senior officials have been in close
contact with authorities from both Pakistan and India in recent weeks,
given the tensions between the two countries when violence escalated
along the Line of Control in October.

Adviser to the Pakistan prime minister on national security and
foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz had written a letter to Ban on the border
tensions with India and sought the UN's intervention.

India has maintained that Kashmir is its internal matter and has
made it clear that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir would be discussed
with Pakistan within the framework of bilateral agreements of Simla pact
and Lahore Declaration.

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